Thursday, October 30, 2008

Using Products With Retinol A- Are They Anti Wrinkle Wonder Creams

By Julie Samtsonn

There are so many anti wrinkle treatments on the market today, claiming everything from being the fountain of youth to making you look like a movie star. Prices can vary dramatically and often the most expensive don't give any better results than thew cheapest. There are prescription creams and over the counter creams. The products that contain Retinol, which is a form of Vitamin A, are available in both prescription and over the counter forms. But, to understand the way they work, you need to understand the forms of Retinoic acid or Tretinoin.

Wrinkles form as you age. It is a fact of life that none of us can escape. The formation of wrinkles occurs because of some other factors, also. Heredity, excess sun exposure and smoking can all encourage wrinkles. Anti-wrinkle creams actually work on the concept of removing the dry, dead outer layer of skin from the surface of your face and by making the underlying skin plumper, increasing elastin and collagen. Some forms of the cream also introduce antioxidants.

Retinoic Acid and Tretinoin, are the FDA proven prescription creams that reduce wrinkles. There are many over-the-counter creams sold in stores and the internet, and while these can claim to contain Retinol A, it is important to note that the FDA allows them to be sold without prescription, because they do not contain enough Retinol A to be considered worthy of monitoring. In other words, they are a milder form of the prescription treatments available. That is not to say, they do not have some effectiveness, but it is important to understand that these are milder forms, and the effects are temporary, whether prescription or over-the-counter, once the treatment is stopped.

The strength levels of Retinoic Acid or Tretinoin from weakest form to strongest are Retinyl palmitate (Vitamin A), Retinol A, Retinaldehyde, and Retinoic Acid or Tretinoin, (under the prescription name, also known as Retin A or Renova).

When you are looking at the active ingredient list on anti wrinkle creams, it is important to compare the level, as it would take longer and more frequent applications of Retinyl palmitate to equal the Retinol A, longer and more frequent applications of Retinol A to equal Retinaldehyde applications. So when comparing pricing, it is important to consider that you may need more anti wrinkle cream, (because of more applications), of a weaker concentration to get the effects of the next step up and so on.

With Retinoic acid, the over-the-counter process that is available may actually be a better solution for some consumers. The prescription levels can sometimes cause excessive redness and skin irritations in the prescription versions. If the reaction is chronic, the use must be discontinued immediately. So, by using the weaker forms of the cream a person risks milder symptoms and it allows the skin a gradual adaptation to the retinoids, from the Retinoic acid. Sometimes, the prescription has to be stopped and the consiumer must change to the over-the-counter remedies. You might decide to talk to a dermatologist and get the prescription strength. Either way, whichever choice you make, it is a proven anti wrinkle cream ingredient.

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